5 England players to watch at the World Cup

5 England players to watch at the World Cup

England's Wayne Rooney applauds the fans as he walks round the pitch after the World Cup Group H qualification soccer match between England and Poland at Wembley stadium in London, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. England won the game 2-0 and qualify for the World Cup in Brazil 2014. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

LONDON (AP) -- Going into the 2012 European Championship with England, Roy Hodgson had only a few weeks from being appointed to taking a squad to the tournament.

The two years since then have allowed Hodgson to implement his own plans, but he will head into the World Cup still relying on a core group of veterans alongside some fresh talent.

Here are five England players to watch:

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WAYNE ROONEY

Wayne Rooney, the one truly world class striker in the England squad, has yet to deliver at a World Cup, failing to score in 2006 and 2010.

But with 38 goals in 89 international matches, Rooney is only 11 from matching Bobby Charlton's England record.

A relief for England coach Roy Hodgson is that the Manchester United striker has settled his club future going into the World Cup by signing a new contract. A concern for Hodgson is just how Rooney might be affected by United's lackluster season by the time he gets to Brazil.

''He has got a difficult job on his hands because they've had a disappointing season,'' Hodgson said.

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STEVEN GERRARD

As the team's leader, Steven Gerrard is an automatic starter, and rightly so.

''Magisterial'' is how England coach Roy Hodgson views a player who remains as influential at 33 but realistically facing one final shot at the World Cup.

''He is a world-class dead-ball specialist and physically, in that role where you need to move from side-to-side to block spaces,'' Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said.

Thriving in a deeper role with rejuvenated Liverpool, Gerrard will come up against the master in that position in the World Cup opener: Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo.

Gerrard will match David Beckham's record of 115 appearances for an England outfield player by playing in the three warm-up matches and three group stage games.

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JOE HART

The 2010 World Cup will be remembered in England for goalkeeper Robert Green allowing Clint Dempsey's long-range strike to slip through his hands.

In 26-year-old Joe Hart, England coach Roy Hodgson has a more reliable stopper between the posts, despite mishaps seeing him dropped by Manchester City for a time this season.

The blunders were uncharacteristic for one of England's most reliable performers at the 2012 European Championship.

''He made a couple of mistakes in (City) games, his coach decided to leave him out, but luckily he's come back and played well,'' Hodgson said.

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ASHLEY COLE

Ashley Cole's first challenge will be making the squad.

If Hodgson retains his faith in the 33-year-old left back, the World Cup will be the time to deploy such an experienced tournament player with 107 appearances despite no longer being first-choice for Chelsea.

''I'm a great admirer of him,'' England coach Roy Hodgson said. ''He's been unbelievably good, and very fit - right at the top of the running statistics - so there's no question about his fitness.''

Leighton Baines, though, would have grounds to be disappointed if he can't displace Cole after an impressive season for Everton, while 18-year-old Southampton player Luke Shaw also looked comfortable at left back on his England debut in the draw with Denmark in March.

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ADAM LALLANA

England coach Roy Hodgson sprang a surprise by calling up Adam Lallana for the November friendlies against Chile and Germany, and the versatile attacking midfielder retained his place in the squad for the draw with Denmark in March.

Not only should the 25-year-old Lallana make the World Cup squad but, if he maintains his lively goal-scoring form for Southampton, is a strong contender to start for England and provide an element of unpredictability the team desperately needs in Brazil.